Process for producing coke

Abstract

In a process for producing a coke by carbonization of a starting coal, the improvement wherein a coal containing a bulk density improving agent composed of a high-molecular organic compound capable of forming a hydrous gel in the presence of moisture is used as the starting coal.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. In a process for producing coke by carbonization of a starting coal, the improvement which comprises carbonizing a starting coal containing a bulk density improving effective amount of a bulk density improving agent comprising a water-insoluble synthetic resin having a high molecular network three-dimensionally crosslinked physically or chemically and capable of absorbing or adsorbing distilled water in an amount of 5 to 1000 times its own weight and capable of forming a hydrous gel in the presence of moisture. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein the bulk density improving agent further comprises a surface active agent. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein the bulk density improving agent further comprises a surface active agent and mineral oil. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 2 or 3 wherein the amount of each of the water-insoluble synthetic resin and the surface active agent is in the range of from 0.005 to 0.5% by weight based on the starting coal. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 2 wherein the amount of the surface active agent is not more than 90% by weight based on the total amount of the water-insoluble synthetic resin and the surface active agent. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 2 or 3 wherein the surface active agent is an anionic or nonionic surface active agent. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 3 wherein the amount of each of the water-insoluble synthetic resin and surface active agent is 0.005 to 0.5% by weight based on the starting coal, and the amount of mineral oil is 0.01 to 3% by weight based on the starting coal. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 3 wherein the total amount of surface active agent and mineral oil is not more than 90% by weight based on the total amount of water-insoluble synthetic resin, surface active agent and mineral oil. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 1 wherein the amount of the bulk density improving agent is from 0.005 up to about 1% by weight based on the starting coal. 
     
     
       10. The process of claim 1 wherein the waterinsoluble synthetic resin is obtained by physically or chemically crosslinking a water-soluble high-molecular synthetic compound. 
     
     
       11. The process of claim 1 wherein the starting coal is slack.